A Guide to the Museum
The Basic Concept of the Okinawa Prefectural PeaceMemorialMuseum

In
late March 1945, a fierce battle such as has rarely been seen in history took
place on these islands. The "Typhoon of Steel" that lasted for
ninety days disfigured mountains, destroyed much of the cultural legacy, and
claimed the precious lives of upward of 200,000 people. The Battle of Okinawa
was the only ground fighting fought on Japanese soil and was also the
largest-scale campaign of the Asia-Pacific War. Even countless Okinawan
civilians were fully mobilized.

A
significant aspect of the Battle of Okinawa was the great loss of civilian
life. At more than 100,000 civilian losses far outnumbered the military death
toll. Some were blown apart by shells, some finding themselves in a hopeless
situation were driven to suicide, some died of starvation, some succumbed to
malaria, while other fell victim to the retreating Japanese troops. Under the
most desperate and unimaginable circumstances, Okinawans directly experienced
the absurdity of war and atrocities it inevitably brings about.

This
war experience is at the very core of what is popularly called the
"Okinawan Heart," a resilient yet strong attitude to life that
Okinawan people developed as they struggled against the pressures of many
years of U. S.
military control.

The
"Okinawan Heart" is a human response that respects personal dignity
above all else, rejects any acts related to war, and truly cherishes culture,
which is a supreme expression of humanity. In order that we may mourn for
those who perished during the war, pass on to future generations the historic
lessons of the Battle of Okinawa, convey our message to the peoples of the
world and thereby established, displaying the whole range of the individual war
experiences of the people in this prefecture, the Okinawa Prefectural Peace
Memorial Museum.